Fiber Beat, Episode 25: "Fiber Best 2011" featuring my media faves of 2011
Media Link: Fiber Best 2011 (26:44)

There's a million crafters in Fiber City and we've all got a yarn to spin.

This episode of Fiber Beat is made possible with the support of Entangled magazine, our brand new sponsor from New Zealand! Entangled is a new digital only, quarterly fibercraft publication. Issue Three featuring Margot Selby, Rachel Lawrence, Jacey Boggs and Donna Druchunas is out now and available through Zinio

Hello everyone and Happy New Year! As the title of this episode suggests - today Iʼll be doing an overview of the books, ebooks and DVDʼs that I thought were standouts this past year.

I've divided my selections into 3 categories: first Books, then E-books, & finally DVDs. The majority of these items were published in 2011 but a few of them were slightly older but nevertheless discoveries that I made only this year. Now keep in mind, listeners, this is not intended to be a definitive list but rather a tip of the hat to my personal favorites.

My top books (from number 10 to number 1) are:

• 10 Secrets of Laid Back Knitters by Lisa Souza and Vicki Stiefel
• Knit Local by Tanis Gray
• Westknits Collection, Book Two by Stephen West
• Wool People & Loft Collection from BrooklynTweed et al
• Knitter's Book of Socks by Clara Parkes
• My Grandmother's Knitting by Larissa Brown
• Charts for Color Knitting by Alice Starmore
• Spin Art by Jacey Boggs
• Knit One Knit All by Elizabeth Zimmermann
• The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook by Deb Robson & Carol Ekarius

My top E-books from (number 10 to number 1):

• More Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
• Teeny Tiny Mochimochi Knits by Anna Hrachovec
• The Shetland Trader by Gudrun Johnston
• A Life in Stitches by Rachael Herron
• Cat's Sweet Tomato Heel Socks by Cat Bordhi
• 7 Small Shawls to Knit by Rosemary (Romi) Hill
• Knitter's Life List by Gwen Steege
• Ornaments & Patterns found in Iceland or Ornaments & Patterns found in Iceland
• Extreme Double Knitting by Alasdair Post-Quinn
• Little Red in the City by Ysolda Teague

My top DVDs & Multimedia (in no particular order):

• Handspinning Rare Wools by Deb Robson
• Spinning for Lace by Margaret Stove
• Knitting Ganseys with Beth Brown-Reinsel by Beth Brown-Reinsel
• Getting Started on a Drop Spindle by Maggie Casey
• Spinning Cotton by Stephenie Gaustad
• Knit Your Own Lopapeysa by Ragnheiður Eiríksdóttir
• Emags: Colorways, SpinKnit, & Sockupied by Interweave Press

If I had to choose the one publication that simply slayed me, it would definitely be the Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook paired with the Handspinning Rare Wools DVD. Both of these gems were the product of a massive amount of research and writing from Deb Robson (F&FS/HRW) & Carol Ekarius (F&FS only). If you have the opportunity to acquire any of these pieces for your personal library, you will be most pleased. I encourage you to explore the book section of your local yarn store. If they don't have them, I bet they can order them for you. You might pay a bit more than ordering them online from a certain discount seller, but you'll be supporting a local economy & quite possibly make some new fiber friends in your own backyard.

Fiber Beat CONTEST for Episode No. 25

For this episode we've got an awesome contest for amazing prizes. I've got (1) a signed copy of Stephen West's WestKnits Book One & Two, (2) a copy of 10 Secrets of Laidback Knitters by Lisa Souza and Vickie Steifel, (3) a copy of Knitter's Life List by Gwen Steege, (4) a copy of Maggie Casey's Getting Started on a Drop Spindle DVD AND (5) a copy of Beth Brown Reinsel's Knitting Ganseys DVD.

All you have to do to enter is answer the following question. What are YOUR favorite media picks for 2011? They can be print, digital or video. You can give me as little or as much information as you like but be sure to include authors and/or publishers so we can get our own copies. You can leave your answer on fiberbeat.com or on the Fiber Beat Ravelry forum. One unique winner for each of the five prizes will be randomly selected from all the entries. DEADLINE FOR ENTERING IS FEBRUARY 22, 2012.

A warm hug to Rodrigo for letting me use some of his photographs from the "Ornaments & Patterns found in Iceland" book. Big shout out to Fiber Beat sponsor, Entangled magazine. Finally, the most rejuvenating hug to all of you, our loyal and patient listeners, for downloading and listening to our first THIRTY TWO episodes (audio/video) of Fiber Beat! If you like what we do, please consider leaving a review on iTunes.

We used snippets of all the songs below in this episode. If you like the music, please support the artists (links provided for your convenience):

• "Fiber Beat theme" performed by Anthony Bonet from exclusive to Fiber Beat (2011)

From all of us at Fiber Beat (Anthony & myself), we wish you the most fiber-tastic New Year and a Prosperous 2012.

My name is WonderMike and I'll see you on the Fiber Beat!!